The rise of the fluid to the top of trees by capillary and other effect:

Capillary action:
Capillary action can be defined as the ascension of liquids through slim tube, cylinder or
permeable substance due to adhesive and cohesive forces interacting between the liquid and
the surface. When intermolecular bonding of a liquid itself is substantially inferior to a
substances’ surface it is interacting, capillarity occurs. Also, the diameter of the container as
well as the gravitational forces will determine amount of liquid raised. While, water
possesses this unique property, a liquid like mercury will not display the same attributes since
it has higher cohesive force than adhesive force.

Forces in capillary action:

Three main variables that determine whether a liquid possesses capillary action are:

 Cohesive force: It is the intermolecular bonding of a substance where its mutual

attractiveness forces them to maintain a certain shape of the liquid.
 Surface tension: This occurs as a result of like molecules, cohesive forces, banding
together to form a somewhat impenetrable surface on the body of water. The surface
tension is measured in Newton/meter.
 Adhesive force: When forces of attraction between unlike molecules occur, it is
called adhesive forces.
Application:

Practical use of capillary action is evident in all forms of our daily lives. It makes performing
our tasks efficiently and effectively. Some applications of this unique property include:

 The fundamental properties are used to absorb water by using paper towels. The
cohesive and adhesive properties draw the fluid into the paper towel. The liquid flows
into the paper towel at a certain rate.
 A technique called thin layer chromatography uses capillary action in which a layer of
liquid is used to separate mixtures from substances.
 Capillary action helps us naturally by pumping out tear fluid in the eye. This process
cleanses the eye and clears all the dust and particles that are around the ducts of the
eye.
 To generate energy: A possible use for capillary action is as a source of renewable
energy. By allowing water to climb through capillaries, evaporate once it reaches the
top, the condensate and drop back down to the bottom spinning a turbine on its way to
create the energy, capillary action can make electricity! Although this idea is still in
the works, it goes to show the potential that capillary action holds and how important
it is.